How to Lose the Baby Weight Without Risk for the Baby

Whether you’ve been trying for quite some time and finally succeeded or the situation caught you by surprise, finding out you’re pregnant is exciting. Within you, a new life is being developed, and you have much to do.

As you’re creating the baby’s new room, buying clothes, and preparing for your baby shower, however, there’s likely something else that’s occurring simultaneously. Gaining baby weight is one of them.

Weight gain is expected during any pregnancy. In fact, you should expect to gain 25 to 35 pounds of baby weight throughout the course of your pregnancy. However, if you’ve found that you’re gaining more than you should, there are ways you can lose the baby weight without risk for the baby.

So Many Changes

From the moment you find out you’re pregnant, there are a number of things going through your mind, and these uncertainties turn into real changes in your life. From finding childcare for work and altering your social life to take care of the baby to midnight feedings and more, there certainly is a lot to think about.

Despite this fact, there is one aspect that, according to a recent UK survey, more than half of moms make their number one priority: getting their bodies back when the pregnancy is over. It’s true that a pregnant woman needs to increase her calorie intake during the course of the pregnancy.

However, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the amount of calorie increase for the common woman is only 300 calories per day. This amounts to the equivalent of one cup of cereal. Unfortunately, all too many women don’t take this into account when they begin increasing their intake.

Just as it can be difficult to keep yourself away from tempting foods and snack items when you aren’t pregnant, it can prove just as difficult to manage your slight increase without going overboard. Whether you’re have already had the baby and are trying to get your pre-baby body back or are still pregnant, there are some important things to keep in mind.

Baby’s Health Comes First

Even if you are no longer pregnant, you can still pose risks to your baby when you decide to actively lose pregnancy pounds. Before determining a diet, it’s important that you speak with your doctor to assure your plan will be safe and healthy.

While pregnant or breastfeeding, you’re responsible for providing nutrients and everything else your baby needs not only to survive, but also to develop. That’s why, no matter what diet you decide to incorporate, you must make sure you’re consuming:

Calcium

Coleen

Docosahexaenoic Acid and omega fatty acids

In an attempt to lose weight, many women have not provided these crucial nutrients to their babies, and there are a number of health consequences that can produce.

A mom Ilana from Princeton is a perfect example. She initially decided to cut carbs from her diet along with other products, and her doctor informed her that cutting off carbs completely can be harmful. This is because the fetal brain actually gets approximately 30% of its energy from ketones found in carbs. Other consequences include poor development in organs, retarded growth, and a predisposition for chronic health problems. The consequences can have a lifelong negative impact on the child.

After the consultation Ilana changed her weight loss journey by employing a few simple tips that anyone with the motivation to succeed can implement. In just two years, she was able to drop an amazing 40 pounds. Even though she loved to eat, she decided to make some small changes for the long-term that would pay off substantially. Some of the tips we can all take from this incredible mom include:

Elimination of cheese on her turkey sandwiches for lunch as well as potato chips

Stocking her cabinets with alternatives to candies and cookies for snacks such as pretzels, carrot sticks, and apple slices

For those moments when she did want to indulge, she opted for 100 calorie snack packs available at most grocery stores

These relatively small changes, over time, produce results, and this mom is living proof that you can lose weight if you remain consistent and don’t give up.

Staying healthy while maintaining a healthful weight can be achieved, but it requires research and motivation. Not only will you give your child a great start in life, but you enhance your own.